The fact is that, ideally speaking, a party wishing to lead the governing coalition should have good rapport with all the demographic constituents of India. Or minimally, it should not have problem with any constituents of the Indian society. But the BJP does have and it seems to be winning these elections too.

The saffron family has problems with Muslims of India since its
very inception and troubled relations continue to the present day.
Equally Muslims of India as a group has strong disliking for the BJP
and other saffron outfits. The intensity is equally strong on both
the sides: the BJP does not care for Muslim votes and Muslims vote
strategically against the party.

India's biggest minority community is scared by the BJP poll
promise in which it vouched for a uniform civil code (UCC). The BJP
proposes the bill obstinately to press for more gender equality. I
can tell all concerned people that in India there is absolute freedom
to practice one's religion and culture and also to cast vote free
from any fear, except possibly in very remote or very undeveloped
areas.

As far as freedom to practice religion is concerned, Muslims have
absolute one, which is possible in India. Only outcastes can protest
against some discrimination if they are not legally allowed to
worship in a few remaining big temples in India. Sure, reality on
ground is much worse for outcastes. But Muslims cannot complain about
anything in this regard. Fine, for very die-hard believers of Islam,
Shariah should be the law of land but that is absolutely impossible
in India though Indian Muslims have their own personal laws.

Therefore, fear of a Hindu, Hindi version of the UCC being forced
on them is too much exaggeration of a reality. The fact is that the
UCC cannot take shape because of the internal divisions among various
Hindus and all Hindus cannot agree for a common code. If a negotiated
UCC is worked out, it could very well end up in an almost a null
document. Now it is the promise made by the BJP; it is neither that
of the NDA or extended NDA and the latter can never agree on this
issue.

In any case, Muslims would be properly consulted before any
decision on the UCC shall be taken in any time possible in Indian
politics. Or else, they would have recourse to protection by India's
apex court. I know that our founding fathers did envision UCC as a
required perpetual goal for homogenizing the vast country but still
Muslims, if they object to a proposed UCC and they will, will get
apex court's protection on the matter.

Now as far as scrapping Article 370 is concerned the BJP has
declared its intention to discuss it with all stakeholders though the
party stands committed towards its abrogation. Now I tell you this is
not at all possible for Narendra Modi to do it anyway. First of all,
the Article 370 cannot be scrapped or even suspended by an executive
decree, an ordinance or by a Cabinet decision. The only route is the
Parliamentary one where the BJP may not be able to muster enough
support.

Now suppose because of executive decision by the Cabinet approved
by the honorable President of India or through the Parliament's
maneuvering the Union government led by Mr. Modi somehow decides to
scrap the Article 370 then the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Assembly
has full right, as a legislative defense mechanism, to reject the
proposal by passing its own resolution against the Union government's
decision or/and Parliament's resolve.

Let me tell all probable readers that this is possible and it does
not undermine lawmaking ability or sovereignty of the Indian
Parliament. Other than that, the J&K government can seek
protection under the existing legal framework and file a petition in
India's apex court against the Center's decision or/and the
Parliament's resolve.

But let me say as a warning that Article 370 is a link between the
New Delhi and Srinagar and its scrapping should be avoided until the
last possible moment. Legally, the status of J&K can only be
changed through the consent of its Assembly and there will be little
support to the proposal about abrogation of Article 370 in the state
legislative body. As a mater of fact the Article 370 has not done
good to the state economically but then not all are economically
rational and that is not how the J&K state views its position
inside Indian Union.

Therefore, it is indeed very difficult and frankly speaking,
nearly impossible for Mr. Modi to undo Article 370. Most important
thing is that he will face opposition within the extended NDA and
again even without that it is legally very challenging task. Still,
the displeasuring views of the biggest and most dominant constituent
of the governing coalition in New Delhi on the issue would matter a
lot to all stakeholders in the state. If the future hypothetical
Union government tries it so, such a measure would minimally strain
Union?s relationship with J&K state.

Now with regard to Pakistan, the BJP's policy would be
tit-for-tat. It would not allow Pakistan to exploit size factor
against India and would deal with it firmly. But there is absolutely
no question of any major conflict erupting with Pakistan by default,
in case Modi-led government takes it shape, formally, post-election.
I do not think that Indian Muslims can have any problem in this
regard. With rest of Islamic world the BJP-led government would keep
normal relations and would mostly continue previous governments?
efficient and effective approach.

In conclusion let me tell the most aware Muslims that Hindus,
particularly the saffron family, are responsible for their misery but
not to that extent as they think. Out of almost a millennia since
Islam arrived in this geography, almost three-quarters of that time
belonged to Muslim rule and except for 67 years of Hindu-dominated
India, the rest belonged to British. British were rather neutral
people and Hindus as a group rarely harm the dominant people. Mind
you, for a quite significant time in the history of Indian Islam,
Muslims were rulers of this country and should own some
responsibility for the state they are in.

I do not need to be told that it is a different time and also that
post-independence there have been many discriminations and violent
acts against Muslims. But again the BJP, in any form, has been
dominant at the Center or at various state levels, for quite
insignificant time. I know that many Muslims are backwards and they
need Union government's support and they should be provided with
that. But then Muslims need to be realistic about the Hindus in
general and the BJP in particular.

I can assert with full confidence that if India continues to grow,
which is the exact possibility, the ability and even willingness of
saffron family to think and act against Muslims would asymptotically
approach a negligible value with nothing but populist nuisance
attached with it for all possible sides.

Whenever it happens it should be welcomed by all, though even
after that Muslims as a group will not vote for the BJP. However, the
fear factor must go immediately and Mr. Modi should promise an
inclusive approach towards Muslims, if and when he leads the
governing coalition in New Delhi. In defense of the BJP I can say
that the party has nothing like having a pogrom against Muslims and
that indeed Hindus as a group are not at all bad people.

Editorial NOTE: This article is categorized under
Opinion Section. The views expressed in this article are solely
those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of
merinews.com. In case you have a opposing view, please click
here to share the same in the comments section.